our Mission Statement:
The Northern Pines Sled Dog Race strives to uphold and share the spirit and heritage of sled dogs and their human partners, and to promote family, community, and environmental values through this adventurous and beautiful activity.
What is the Difference?
WHAT WE DO!
DON'T MISS THE THRILLING START OF THE RACE
The Northern Pines Sled Dog Race Committee would like to thank Jasper Meddock Productions, for his outstanding drone videos and JoAnn Jardine from Studio One for her photography contributions. Please visit their websites to purchase pictures and aerial video’s when you need to document your own life’s memories.
Join us in celebrating the majestic Alaskan/Siberian Husky and all northern breeds, whose beauty and power have made them beloved stars of the thrilling sport of dog mushing. To help showcase these amazing athletes, we’ve created a series of stunning AI-generated images depicting hypothetical scenes of them in action on snow-packed trails and striking portrait shots. Let’s pay tribute to these remarkable creatures and the unique bond they share with the Northern Pines Sled Dog Race.
What are the Sights & Sounds
of Dog Sledding?
Courtesy of “Wolfsong Adventures in Mushing,” the links provided will help answer that question
CLICK ME ~ Lets Go Dog Sledding!The Northern Pines SDR starts and finishes at the beautiful Northern Pines Golf Course and Event Center. Situated in Bayfield County and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. This sprint/mid-distance race is an exhilarating down hill run through the golf course entering the Bayfield County Trail system and the Tri-County Corridor.
FASCINATING DOG
SLEDDING FACTS
Dog Mushing Commands
Sled Dog Terminology
- Lead Dog: Some say the most critical part of the team, lead dogs set the pace and keep the other dogs on the trail. They are the dogs that respond to the musher’s commands of “gee” (right turn) and “haw” (left turn). Lead dogs must be alert and intelligent so they can find and follow the trail when it is covered over with snow. They also keep the other dogs in the team moving by keeping the gangline tight. Some mushers might use only one lead dog but it is more common to see two.
- Swing (Point) Dog: Positioned directly behind the lead dogs, the swing dogs help steer the team around corners. As lead dogs make a turn, the swing dogs pull the team in an arc that keeps the other dogs on the trail and brings the sled and musher safely around a corner.
- Team Dog: The team’s core. They pull the sled and maintain speed or pace. There can be several pairs of team dogs, depending on the size of the team.
- Wheel Dog: These are the two dogs closest to the sled. Not necessarily the largest of the dogs but sometimes they are the most agile, often needing to cross over the main line while going around corners and then return to their original position.
- It is not uncommon, though a bit time-consuming, for mushers to switch dogs’ positions during a race. Some dogs make better leaders in certain weather conditions but not others. Sometimes, after a run, a musher may wish to give a lead dog a break or day off.
The Northern Pines Sled Dog Race would like to highlight other sponsors/supporters of dog mushing events. We hope visitors to our website will benefit from the links shown below.
